Large-scale, mobile and technology-enhanced serious game for interprofessional education: pilot study and lessons learnt

Recent research suggests that serious gaming is a promising strategy for interprofessional education (IPE). This report describes the design and pilot testing of a large-scale, mobile, technology-enhanced serious game embedded in the IPE curriculum in Geneva, Switzerland. Organized into teams of eight, the students were tasked with finding a young patient who had just escaped from the intensive care unit. Through a series of 10 stations, they explored hospital- and community-based locations of the healthcare system and were engaged in various learning and game activities; they were rewarded with cues to unveil the mystery. A total of 582 undergraduate students from seven disciplines (medicine, midwifery, nursing, nutrition-dietetics, pharmacy, physiotherapy, and technology in medical radiology) took part. Survey results (response rate: 62.8%) suggest that an overall majority of students valued the game, particularly the collaborative experience of actively learning from others in autonomous teams. Qualitative feedback allowed us to identify future areas for improvement: simplifying the adventure storyline and optimizing student flow. Educational institutions across the world facing challenges when creating IPE activities will find in this report ideas and lessons learnt to use mobile technology and serious gaming for large cohorts of students.

Needs assessment for training in interprofessional skills in Swiss primary care: a Delphi study

Despite the importance of appropriate interprofessional collaboration in health care, it is still insufficiently taught in health professions education. The aim of the study was to conduct a needs assessment among health professionals on the themes and skills to be taught during interprofessional education programs in the context of Swiss primary care. A three round Delphi electronic survey was carried out in order to identify priority themes and skills to be included in such a program. Participants comprised 12 categories of health professionals. Seventy-two participated in the first, 41 in the second and 43 in the third round. Patient communication, case management of chronic conditions, therapeutic patient education, health promotion and prevention, ethics and medication were the most important themes identified. The most important skill was regarded as "to define and then share tasks and responsibilities between professionals". Sub-analysis revealed that both priority themes and skills chosen differed between health professional categories.

[Simulation in obstetrics]

Obstetrical emergencies may represent extremely critical situations with potential dramatic maternal and neonatal consequences. These situations should be managed by an effective and experienced multidisciplinary staff. Simulation allows a regular and repeated practice of these situations with no risk to patient safety and the possibility to analyse participants' performances in a group. This review describes different obstetrical simulation methods and summarizes the evidence for its efficiency in obstetric practice.